Unhealthiest Foods for Your Heart After 50, Say Dietitians — Eat This Not That

funny how when you turn 50 you suddenly pay more attention to your heartbeat. Maybe it’s because you’ve noticed that friends and family not much older than you are starting to have heart problems. Or maybe you have read somewhere that heart failure It is the leading cause of hospitalization for adults over 65 years of age. According to the American Heart Association, the 50s and 60s are typically when people put on the most weight, especially around the waist, and heart disease risk factors Appear.

Rest assured that you have time to change things for the health of your heartdoctors say. Assuming you don’t smoke, the practical advice is very direct and specific: Eat fewer unhealthy foods.

You already know this recipe. The question is: are you filling it?

We assume not because you are reading this article. You probably need some motivation and direction, so here it is: a list of the least healthy foods for your heart, according to dieticians. Read on and for more information on how to eat healthy, don’t miss The #1 Best Juice for Everyday Drive, Science Says.

fried chicken sandwich
Shutterstock

“If you want to keep your heart healthy after 50, it’s time to take a serious look at your saturated fat intake,” he says. Rebecca Schilling, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist for US RX. “Most of my clients over the age of 50 struggle with this recommendation. They were raised in Red meat Y Fried chicken and the idea of ​​becoming like their vegan nephew scares them.” But there’s no avoiding the truth that eating a diet high in saturated fat and low in fruits, vegetables, and fiber contributes to heart disease.

  Risk of suicide highest among women entering menopause

“Foods high in saturated fat create a perfect storm by clogging arteries, raising bad cholesterol, and contributing to high blood pressure“says Schilling. “My recommendation is to limit meat consumption at meals to a 3-ounce portion (about the size of your palm), treat highly marbled red meats and fried foods as a rare treat , cut fat from all cuts of meat, choose low-fat dairy products, and increase the amount of fruits, vegetables, and fiber you eat daily.”

fries and sodafries and soda
Shutterstock

Those staples for lunch and game day, chips Y sodaThey provide a triplet of bad news for your heart health: sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar. “Bag snacks (and cookies, too) aren’t just high in sodium,” says Melissa Mitri, RD, a registered dietitian for wellness edge, “but they also encourage overeating and increase the risk of weight gain because they are so palatable.”

Sugar also plays a key role in poor heart health. “Soda is high in added sugar, which is a risk factor for diabetes, obesity and heart disease,” says Mitri. “You can avoid that risk by choosing healthier soda alternatives like flavored carbonated or sparkling waters.”

diet sodadiet soda
Shutterstock

Change of sugary drinks Drinking diet soda to cut calories and sugar may sound like a smart move, but it backfires when it comes to heart health. “Artificially sweetened beverages are associated with an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases,” says Arika Hoscheit, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist with pigeon health.

a study in diabetes care discovered that people who drink diet soda daily have a 36% increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome and a 67% increased risk of type 2 diabetes compared to non-diet soda drinkers.

  Vegan cheese: what you should know

How does less sugar correlate with an increased risk of diabetes? Hoscheit says the artificial sweetness in low-calorie diet drinks makes it harder for your body to calculate caloric density, “increases your appetite and alters your microbiome, which can lead to glucose intolerance and increased cravings for sugary, high-energy foods.” and drinks”.

To protect your heart, choose water most of the time and minimize your intake of artificially sweetened beverages. “Lowering your intake of diet soda can help reduce your appetite, improve weight control, and improve overall health,” says Hoscheit.

donutsdonuts
Shutterstock

The poster child for foods to avoid for men and women over 50 concerned about their heart health is the delicious donut. “Donuts are not only fried, which dumps a lot of unhealthy fat into your system, but they’re also loaded with sugar and refined carbohydrates, which can lead to weight gain and increase your risk of heart disease,” He says. Susan Bowerman, DR, Certified Obesity and Weight Management Specialist and Senior Director of Global Nutrition Education for herbalife nutrition.

“Refined carbohydrates and sugar also tax the body’s ability to process them, and as people age, many become insulin resistant or prediabetic, which increases the risk of heart disease,” he says.

Now that you know the foods to avoid for good heart health, start filling the gap with these The best foods that can reduce your risk of heart disease.

Leave a Comment